Ordnance



March 2, 1937. Q C. DAWSCN 2,072,099

ORDNANCE Filed April 7, 1934 INVENTOR r'eyar/ awson .miv l" ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 2, l937 AGregory V(D. Davison,

Lyme, Conn.; Alice Lydia Shepard Davison, executrix of said Gregory C. Davison, deceased, assigner, by mesne assignments, to American Ordnance Corporation, New London, Conn., a corporation of Delaware p Application April 7, 1934, Serial No. 719,465

12 Claims.

This invention relates to ordnance and particularly to recoil and counter-recoil or running-out gear for guns.

More particularly stated, the invention relates type these pressures are communicated to all parts,

of the system giving rise to leakage in the packings and stuffing boxes.

This invention has vfor one of its objects to provide a hydro-pneumatic recoil and counter-- recoil system and mechanism so designed as to confine the high pressures to the recoil cylinder and to prevent the communication of such high pressures to other parts of the mechanism and system.

Another object of the invention is to provide mechanism of the character described so constructed and arranged as to obtain a positive control of the counter-recoil andV furthermore a con-V struction in which the recoil and counter-recoil actions are positive and Vindependent of the amount of` fluid in therecuperator or of the particular position of the floatingpiston therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide simple, practical and effective recoil and counterreccilfmechanism so constructed and arranged as to operate Yefficiently and furthermore so constructed and arranged that the hydraulic and pneumatic fluids are conned in the system and are merely shifted or displaced from one part of the system to another during Vthe recoil and counter-recoil actions.

Further robjects of the invention will appear from the following specication taken in connection with the drawing which forms a part of thisV application, `and in which Fis.` l is a longitudinal sectional elevation of mechanism-'constructed in accordance with the invention, the parts being shown in. battery or ring position;

Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1 but showing the parts in recoil position;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional elevation taken substantially on line 3-3-of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional elevation taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig.` 5 is a longitudinal sectional the counter-recoil cylinder; and

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the recoil cylinder. Y 3 I. L The invention briefly described consists of a system and mechanism comprising a recoilcylinder, a counter-recoil cylinder, a recuperator cylinder and conduits and valve controlled passages between these parts so constructed and arranged that when the gun is red the liquid `will be trans-- ferred to a large extent from the recoil cylinder into the recuperatorrcylinder causing gas under elevation of.

pressure in the recuperator cylinder to be further,

compressed by the action of the liquid against a floating piston therein. After the gun and parts attached thereto have come to rest in therecoil position Ythev compressed gas in the recuperator cylinder forces the hydraulic medium oriliquid back ,into the counter-recoil cylinder and-,from this cylinder into the recoil cylinder where the liquid under pressure acts on the head ofthe recoil cylinder to return the gun recoil cylinder, re-

cuperator cylinder and parts carried thereby to their initial or battery position.

Further .details of the invention will appear from the following description. s

I0 -designates a gun to which-are affixed yokes II, Il slidably supported on a track I2 which is a part` of a cradle, the rear end I3 of which extends downwardly to xedly support the closed end of a counter-recoil cylinder I8. The cradle` is pivotally supported intermediate its length -by trunnions I4. A recoil cylinder I5, in axial alinement with the counter-recoil cylinder I8, is supported to slide with the Yokes I I, I I.

I'l is a recuperator cylinder supported in the lower ends of the yokes I I, I I below the recoil and counter-recoil cylinders. 45 is a floating piston in the cylinder. I9 is a stuffing-box collar surrounding the counter-recoil cylinder I8, threaded into the end of recoil cylinder I5 and arranged to hold a packing 2li between its end and an annular ange 2| in the recoil cylinder.

An enlargement of the end of the counterrecoil cylinder forms a hollow piston 23 which` fits in the recoil cylinder. In the end of this piston is a perforated disk 24. 25 is a valve within this hollow piston pressed against a seat 25 by a spring 21 interposed between the disk 24 and an interrupted shoulder 28 on the valve. The recoil and counter-recoil cylinders are filled with oil or other suitable liquid and this valve permits the oil to flow from the counter-recoil cylinder into the recoil cylinder through the disk 24, but checks its ow in the opposite direction.

30 is a hollow piston rod supported in a boss 3l on the closed end of the recoil cylinder I5. 32 is a piston on its other end which ts and slides in counter-recoil cylinder I 8.

The recoil cylinder I5 is provided with longitudinally extending internal grooves 33 which are tapered longitudinally either in Width or in depth. The counter-recoil cylinder I8 is also provided with similar longitudinally extending grooves 34 tapered in a like manner.

The left hand yoke I I viewing Figs. 1 and 2 is provided with a valve chamber 35 which communicates with an annular chamber 33 formed at one end of the recoil cylinder between the piston 23 and the packing 23 and also communicates at its lower end with one end of the recuperator cylinder I1. A perforated disc 31 is disposed between the valve chamber 35 and the cylinder II and a spring 38 seats against the disc 31 and normally forces a check valve 39 upwardly against a seat 40.

The valve chamber 35 also communicates with a Conduit 4I which is fixed in the yokes and has a curvedend 42 connected to the head of the recoil cylinder I5 and communicating with the hollow piston rod 30.

A suitable inert gas or air is forced under pressure into the recuperator cylinder I'I, to the right of floating piston 45, and the remaining parts of the system, namely, the recoil and counter-recoil cylinders, conduit 4I, hollow piston rod 30, valve casing 35 and connecting parts are all lled with a suitable liquid. The initial pressure of the gas in the recoil cylinder is predetermined by the requirements of the. system and may be approximately 1500 pounds. It will be understood, however, that this pressure will be varied according to the conditions encountered. Sufiicient pressure is used to overbalance the gun barrel and the parts movable therewith and to return them to battery position after firing, even when raised to high elevations. The oating piston 45 may be initially positioned as shown in Fig. 1, anywhere between the ends of the recuperator cylinder. During the recoil action this piston is moved to a position such as that shown in Fig. 2, thus compressing the gas behind it. The exact position of the piston is not material to the operation of the system provided it is at no time located at either extreme end of the cylinder.

A brake or counter-recoil buier is provided for absorbing the energy of the counter recoil and for the purpose of bringing the gun to rest without jar or shock at the end of the counter-recoil. This brake may be of any desired construction and in the form of the invention illustrated comprises a friction brake band 50 which is carried by a bracket 5I secured to the cradle under the guideway I2. The brake band encircles the recoil cylinder I5 and frictionally engages the outer surface thereof, thus acting to absorb the energy of counter-recoil and prevent jars or shocks.

The operation of the recoil and counter-recoil mechanism above described will now be outlined.

Recoil action Before detailing this action attention is called to the fact that the guideway I 2 and the counterrecoil cylinder I8 are supported on the trunnions I4 and are xed and immovable and that the remaining parts, including the recoil cylinder I5, recuperator cylinder I1. Conduit 4I, hollow piston rod 30 and parts carried thereby move with the gun I 0 and yokes II relative to the guideway and the counter-recoil cylinder I8.

The parts are shown in Fig. 1 in battery or ring position, most of the hydraulic medium being located in the counter-recoil cylinder I8, recoil cylinder I5, hollow piston rod 30, and conduit 4I and in the left hand end of the recuperator cylinder I'I.

When the gun fires the kick or rearward velocity and pressure are absorbed by the recoil mechanism. This pressure causes the gun and parts connected thereto to move from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2. During this movement the liquid in the recoil cylinder I5 to the right of the piston formed by the enlarged end 23 of the counter-recoil cylinder I8, passes through the longitudinal grooves 33 to the left of the piston 23 and thence through the annular space 36 and valve casing 35 into the left hand end of the recuperator cylinder I'I viewing Figs. 1 and 2. The pressureY of this liquid will open the valve 39. As this liquid passes into the recuperator cylinder I1 the floating piston 45 y will be forced toward the right viewing Figs. 1 and 2, thus compressing the gas to the right of piston 45. This operation will continue until the parts have reached the full recoil position shown in Fig. 2.

During this operation most oi the liquid in recoil cylinder I5 (Fig. 1), will be transferred to recuperator cylinder I1 (Fig. 2). The grooves 33 are tapered to offer increasing resistance to the passage of liquid around piston 23 during this movement. Piston 23 passes beyond'the right hand end o f the grooves and arrests this recoil movement. It is to be noted that during the recoil movement the Valve 25 is closed. The counter-recoil cylinder has practically no eifect in retarding the recoil as the liquid passes around After the parts have reached the position shown in Fig. 2 the pressure of the gas in the recuperator cylinder I'I will force the floating piston '45 to the left causing the liquid in the recuperator cylinder to pass into the valve casing 35 and thence through the conduit 4I and hollow piston rod 3U into the counter-recoil cylinder I8. During this operation the valve 39 is closed. The liquid then passes through the grooves 34 of the counter-recoil cylinder I8 to the opposite side of the piston 32 on the end of piston rod 30 and the pressure of this liquid will move the valve 25 from its seat 26 permitting the liquid to pass through the perforated plate 24 into the recoil cylinder I5. The pressure of this liquid in the recoil cylinder will act on the closed head of this cylinder to force the recoil cylinder to the right on the counter.

" merely shifted during the action of the recoil'and counter-recoil movements. Particular attention is called to the `fact that in the system and mechanism described the packing-2 ll is the only packl ing used, -whereas in other mechanism of the E hydro-pneumatic typea plur'alityofpackings'are used `which '-aresubjected-toi high pressures. Moreover-,in themechanism used in this invention the 44packing -is subjected*v only L to vrelatively low pressuresandnot to A'the highv pressures encoun- 2'0 teren in4 the retoiioyiinienl Y I.

' y'Although one' specific embodiment vof the invention has been""particula`rly` shown "and described it lwill be'understood that'the invention is capable of modification and that changes inthe constructionand inthe arrangement of the *various cooperating parts may be-made without departing fromk the spirit or scope of the invention,-y as expressd in thefollowing claims.

What I claim is:

1. Recoil and counter-recoil mechanism for guns comprising a stationary counter recoil cylinder, a recoil cylinder fixed to the gun slidable over the counter-recoil cylinder during the recoil 35 of the gun, a piston fixed to the counter-recoil cylinder and disposed in the recoil cylinder, a piston fixed to the recoil cylinder and disposed in the counter-recoil cylinder, a recuperator cylinder, and conduits establishing communication between the inner end of the recoil cylinder and recuperator cylinder, said conduits establishing communication to the inner end of the recoil cylinder throughout the recoil of the gun and during the counter-recoil of the gun between the 5 recuperator cylinder and counter-recoil cylinder and means for establishing communication between the counter-recoil cylinder to the recoil cylinder.

2. Recoil and counter-recoil mechanism for guns comprising a counter-recoil cylinder, a recoil cylinder slidable over the counter-recoil cylinder, a piston fixed to the counter-recoil cylinder and disposed in the recoil cylinder, said piston having a passage therethrough and a valve controlling said passage and opening toward the recoil cylinder and away from the counter recoil cylinder, a pistonxed to the recoil cylinder and disposed in the counter-recoil cylinder, a recuperator cylinder, and conduits establishing communication between the recoil cylinder and recuperator cylinder and between the recuperator cylinder and counter-recoil cylinder and conduits establishing communication between the counter-recoil and recoil cylinders.

3. Recoil and counter-recoil mechanism for guns comprising a stationary counter-recoil cylinder,a recoil cylinder xed to the gun and slidable over the counter-recoil cylinder during the recoil of the gun, a piston xed to the counterrecoil cylinder and disposed in the recoil cylinder, a piston fixed to the recoil cylinder and disposed in the counter-recoil cylinder, said last named piston being carried by a hollow piston rod iixedly secured to the recoil cylinder, a re- 75 cuperator cylinder, and conduits establishing communication betweenf'the inner end of there-f recoil ofithef gun, "a ypiston fixed" to the counterf recoilfcylinder and disposed inthe recoil cylinder, said-piston having 'a passage therethrough and avalve,-controllirigl said" passage, Ya piston fixed tc: lth'e Arecoil vcylinder and 'disposed' "in Lthe counter-recoil cylinder, saidlast namedfpiston being ycarriedby aghollow piston rod xedly secured to "the: recoil l'cylin'den Vav-recup'erator cyl-1 inder, and v J,r'1du`its f establishing communication between therecoil` cyflinde'rand` recuperator cyl-v inder and between thel recuperator cylinder and counter-recoil cylinder and-*conduits establishing communication between 'Y the" counter-recoil and recoilcylinders.

5.1!.1.r.e09i1n1 unter Y gurls; a 'stationary 'counter-recoil cylinder; arecoil cylinder fixed to the gun and slidable in telescoping relation thereto, a piston in the recoil cylinder fixed relative to the counter-recoil cylinder, said piston having an opening establishing communication between said cylinders, a valve for controlling said opening and arranged to open toward the recoil cylinder and away from the counter recoil cylinder, and a piston in the counter-recoil cylinder iixed relative to the recoil cylinder.

6. In recoil and counter-recoil mechanism for guns, a stationary counter-recoil cylinder, a recoil cylinder xed to the gun and slidable in telescoping relation thereto, a piston carried by one end of the counter-recoil cylinder disposed in the recoil cylinder, said piston having an opening establishing communication between said cylinders, a valve for controlling said opening and arranged to open toward the recoil cylinder and away from the counter recoil cylinder, a piston rod xed to the recoil cylinder and extending into the counter-recoil cylinder, and a piston on said rod in the counter-recoil cylinder.

7. In recoil and counter-recoil mechanism for guns, a counter-recoil cylinder, a recoil cylinder slidable in telescoping relation thereto, a piston in the recoil cylinder fixed relative to the counter-recoil cylinder, a piston in the counter-recoil cylinder fixed relative to the recoil cylinder, each cylinder having internal longitudinal extending grooves permitting passage of the liquid around said pistons, a recuperator cylinder, means for conducting fluid from the recoil cylinder to the recuperator cylinder, and means for conducting fluid from the recuperator cylinder to the counter-recoil cylinder.

8. Recoil and counter-recoil mechanism for guns comprising a counter-recoil cylinder, a recoil cylinder in telescoping relation thereto, a recuperator cylinder, pistons in said cylinders, a valve casing communicating with the recoil cylinder and with the recuperator cylinder, a valve in the casing arranged to open to permit the passage of uid from the recoil cylinder through the casing and into the recuperator cylinder,'and aconduit leading Afrom said casing to the counter-recoil cylinder through the piston therein. v-

9. In recoil and counter-.recoil Ymechanism for guns, arecoil cylinder fixed to the gun, ya -counter recoil cylinder movable into the recoil cylinder, a .piston formed-on the end of the counterrecoil cylinder and disposed in the recoil cylinder, a packing between the end of therecoil cylinder and surrounding the counter-recoil cylinder, a passage through the vpiston into the vrecoil cylinder from the counter-recoil cylinder, a valve seating in a direction toward -the counter-recoil cylinder for controlling said passage, ar hollow piston rod connected .to and extending through the vend of the recoil cylinder, apiston on said rod in the counter-recoil-cylinder, a recuperator cylinder, and -means connecting the hollow piston rod to the recuperator cylinder. Y

10. `A gun, a recoil cylinder aixed thereto, astationary counter-recoil cylinder having a pis-r ton at one of its ends within the recoil cylinder, a recuperator cylinder movable with the Yrecoil cylinder, a one-way passagevfrom vthe inner end of the recoil cylinder to .the recuperator cylinder, and an independent Apassage `from .the recuperator cylinder back to therecoil cylinder through the counter-recoil cylinder. y

11. A gun, a recoil cylinder aixed thereto, a

stationary counter-recoil cylinder having a. pis

ton at one of its endsrwithin the vrecoil cylinder,

a check-Valve controlled passage through said piston, a recuperator cylinder movable with the recoil cylinder, a one-Way passage from the inner end ofthe recoil cylinder to the recuperator cylinder, and means for transferring liquid back to the recoil cylinder comprising an independent passage vfrom the recuperator -cylinder to the counter-recoil cylinder and through said checkvalve controlled passage.

. 12. Agun, a recoil cylinder aixed thereto, a stationary counter-recoil cylinder having a pis ton at one of its ends within the recoil cylinder, a check-valve rcontrolled passage -through said piston, a recuperator cylinder movable with the reooilcylinder, a one-way fpassage from the inner' end of the recoil cylinderto the -recuperator cylinder, and a passage from the lrecuperator cylinder to the counter-recoil cylinder comprising a hollow rod extending through the recoil cylinder into the counter-recoil cylinder arranged to` form an independent .means .for transferring liquid from the recuperator cylinder back to the recoil cylinder through the counter-recoil cylinder and through said check-valve controlled pas. sage. 

